[luv2byte]

Out dogs are fairly small, 24 & 19lbs, but after they eat we've always had a rule of no playing hard & crazy running for an hour. Since we have always encouraged them to be mellow after eating they go lay down for a nap after eating. Our concern, even if they are small dogs is that they might get bloat and for humans, running on a full stomach causes nausea so we assume the same for dogs.

But...my question is, does anyone else do this with their dogs? I'm just curious.

 

[Abbylynn]

I do with all of my dogs. One hour before and one hour after eating ... no strenuous horse play and definitely no marathon running.

 

[ManyRoses]

This is a good practice, not because of bloating, but because in small dogs and puppies, it is possible for the stomach to "flip" which can cause anything from mild discomfort right up to serious health issues!!

In general, it is a good idea to avoid heavy play or exercise for 30mins before and after feeding small and young dogs.

 

[luv2byte]

Ha! So we are not nuts. stomach torsion is what I was thinking of, not bloat. Everyone respects out choices when we talk about it but yet we can tell they think I'm crazy. This is something we have always been strict about.

 

[Losech]

I try to limit exercise after a meal, but I don't crate them or nothin like that.

 

[luv2byte]

We don't crate at all,they have free roaming . But after eating we relax so the dogs are in habit of going to ther fave spots to nap.

 

[Abbylynn]

I don't crate anyone but Eddee ... I have to ... he is a speed demon after he eats big time! If any dog would get stomach torsion or bloat ... it would be him!

 

[Wicket]

I do this too even though my dog is only 10lbs. I don't want to risk bloat, also when she's too active too soon after eating Wicket sometimes throws up.

 

[Kayota]

In dogs bloat is just another word for the stomach flipping/stomach torsion...

 

[JulieK1967]

I'm also concerned about bloat even though she's small (13 lbs) so I try to keep Molly quiet after eating. Breakfast is not a problem since she's been sleeping & she automatically runs back to bed after her morning meal. I'll wait an hour or so after she's eaten dinner before we head out for our evening walk. She's not terribly active in the late afternoon so I don't purposely keep her quiet but I do consciously not engage her in exercise right before dinner.

 

[kadylady]

We do this as well. Generally the dogs are fed around a similar time as us so we happen to be sitting or inactive. I think it had become a habit with them to rest after eating because after they sniff each others bowls, check to see if I have anything extra they can beg out of me lol they generally curl up for a nap, or Zoey sometimes likes to chew her antler after dinner. As it has been getting hotter we have been talking our evening walks a little later so I have been feeding them earlier to give them enough rest time before walk. I try to rest them about a half hour.